Float control means for washing machines



T. R. SMITH FLOAT CONTROL MEANS FOR WASHING MACHINES Original Filed Dec. 20, 1948 March 31, 1953 `Patented Mar. 31, 1953 FLOAT .CONTROL 'MEANSJEOB WASHING MACHINES Thomas It. Smith, Newton, Iowa-'assigner to The Maytag Company, Newton, Iowa, a corporation of Delaware .Original application December 20, 13.4.8s Serial No. 66,230. Divided and this application November 17, 135.0, Serial No. :196,297

3 Claims.

Although not so limited, the invention iinds Y particularly good application to the automatic type fof washing machine wherein the washing liquid :is fed into a ywashing tub until an amount is suppliedtofreach a predetermined level, whereupon the cycle is lcontinued automatically for washing :and rinsing-fabrics placed in the washingstuband then 'for extracting liquid therefrom.

For-the proper Vwashing of `fabrics 'in a tub of a washing machine, it -is i-mportant `that the proper lamountl of liquid be fed into the tub initially and for economic purposes, among others, the.-S1lDPlyof Vliquid should be shut off when a certain predetermined level is reached. For accurate ,and `proper operation, the liquid supply shouldbe-automatically shut off. After the washing operation, it V,important vthat a proper amount of rinsing liquidshould be supplied.

One objectief-ther invention is tojprovide novel and practical float control means for a washing machinenr the like wherebyafter suppliedrwashingandrinsing-liquids haveireached a predeterminedlevel 4Vin the washing tub, the supplyrwill be aautomatically discontinued vuntil a -further vsupply is required.

:lAnother object is to provide simple, durable, eicient and readily accessible liquid supply float control means adapted to meet the requirements for successful operation.

These and other objects are accomplished by the float control shown in the accompanying sheet of drawings wherein the single figure is a fragmentary vertical sectional View of a washing machine embodying the invention.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a washing machine having a cabinet including four vertical side walls I I! connected in any suitable manner and a cover plate I2 connected to the side walls I through anges I 4. The cover plate l2 has a central opening I6 adapted to be closed by a lid I8 which is preferably pivotally connected to the cover plate I2. Within the cabinet I0 is a stationary tub 2l) having a liquid-tight seal connection 22 with the cover plate I2. Mounted within the outer stationary tub is a rotatable clothes or fabric-receiving tub having an imperforate portion 24 and a perforate por- Y tion 2E suitably held in spaced relationship by 12 spacing elements 28 and screws 3 0. Theupper end of wperforate portion 326 terminates in -an upwardly and inwardly extending portion 32 havingv an opening-Min line nwith the cover opening `I6 whereby when-the lid I8 is raised clothes yer fabrics may be placed in the inner rotatable tub and withdrawn-therefrom.

Within the inner rotatable tub 24-26 is an agitator 36 suitably splinedor connected tothe upper end `of a shaft 38 whereby the agitator maybe given a `to-and-fromovement The agitator-is formed with -a central post lIIl and a base or body portion 42 lextending downwardly and outwardly from the center -post 40. One or more blades Alli/which extendoutwardly from thebase portion 2 may be provided, which, when the agitator is oscillated,ieffects awashing operation within Ithe inner tub.

The `central post or pedestal '40 extends upwardly `from the `base `I2 and is formed with an inner chamber or compartment 46 which communicates with the interior of the tub 26 through one ormore openings {48 provided in the lower wall dening the float chamber l46. A Hfloat 5Ilis slidably mountedwithin the chamber lloat 46 and is adapted -to be l moved vertically in accordance withvchange in the liquidlevelwithin the inner tub 12d- 26 for operating certaincontrol mechanismswithinthe Vlid I8fand representedby the push button 52.

The float 50 has its ends closed andfis lformed with an annular recess 54 providing oppqsitely disposed shoulders @56--and-58-for limitingthe vertical axial reciprocatory movement of the float with respect to the center post 40. This limiting means comprises a exible band of material 60, such as rubber or the like, which embraces the center post 40 and has a plurality of spaced projections 62 extending through openings 64 in the center post. These projections extend into the recess 54 and are adapted to engage the end walls or shoulders 56 and 58 thereof for limiting the upward and downward vertical movements of the float 56 with respect to the center post 46. This float 50 is adapted to engage and operate the control button 52 mounted in the lid I8 when the washing liquid rises to a predetermined level within the inner rotatable tub 24--26 forV automatically shutting off the supply of washing and rinsing liquid.

While the specific illustration of the invention contemplates the mounting of this float 50 within the recess provided in the center post for the agitator, nevertheless it comprehends the mounting of such a float Within a supporting structure whether or not the same is in any way associated withthe agitator or other washing means disposed within the inner tub 24-26. As mentioned, the iloat 50 is adapted upon the washing or rinsing liquid attaining a predetermined height in the inner tub 24-26, to move the control button 52 which extends into the lid for operating the liquid supply control mechanism mounted therein. In those instances where the float chamber 45 is provided in the agitator, it was found that a more satisfactory performance is obtained when a single passage, such as 48, is provided from the interior of the tub 24-26 into the oat chamber. This eiectively retards the transfer of fluid fluctuations from the inner tub into the float chamber and thereby stabilizes the float.

As mentioned above, the agitator 36 is given an oscillatory movement during the washing operation. When the washing operation is completed the agitator 36 is temporarily stopped and the inner tub 24--26 and the float chamber 46 are given a rotary spinning movement through mechanism represented by the casing 66 for discharging the washing liquid from the inner tub 24-26 and the float chamber 46 whereupon the cat 50 passes out of engagement with the control button 52 and moves downwardly within the float chamber 46 until it is stopped at its lower limit of movement by the interengagement of projections 62 and upper shoulder 56. Thereafter, and when the inner tub 24-26 is preferably stationary, rinsingliquid is supplied to the inner tub 24--26 until the liquid has reached a predetermined level therein, as a result of which the float again is raised into engagement with the control button `52 preparatory to further.

movement of the agitator and thereafter a rotation of the inner tub 24-26 for discharging the liquid within the inner tub and for extracting liquid from the clothes washed and rinsed therein.

Preferably the center post 4U has a plurality of vertically-extending circumferentially-spaced inwardly-extending projections tc act as guides for the vertical movement of the float 50.

By means of the arrangement herein disclosed, the objects of the invention are accomplished. There may be various modifications of the invention and it is my intention to cover all such modifications coming within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Iclaim:

1. In a washing machine, the combination of a center post having a float chamber therein, a float movable in said float -chamber in accordance with water level conditions, said float having an inwardly extending recess intermediate its ends adapted to form a stop shoulder, said center post having at least one aperture extending therethrough, and a flexible member embracing said center post and having a projection extending through said aperture of said center post adapted to engage said stop shoulder to limit movement of said float.

2. In a washing machine, the combination of a center post having a oat chamber therein, a iioat movable in said float chamber in accordance with water level conditions, said oat having an inwardly extending annular recess intermediate its ends adapted to form oppositely disposed stop shoulders, said center post having at least one aperture extending therethrough, and a flexible member embracing said center post and having a projection extending through said aperture of said center post adapted in lone position to engage one of said shoulders for supportingly mounting said float in said chamber and adapted in another position to engage the other of said shoulders to limit the -outward movement of said float relative to said chamber.

3. In a washing machine, the combination of a center post having a float chamber therein, a float movable in said oat chamber in response to changes in level of water around said post, said oat having a radial depression intermediate its ends, said post having at leastone aperture extending through it, and a pin-like projection occupying said aperture extending inwardly into said chamber and into the depression in said float -to limit the movement of the latter axially of said chamber.

THOMAS R. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,433,216 McCutchen Oct. 24, 1922 1,524,458 Simons Jan. 27, 1925 1,831,318 ONeil Nov. 10, 1931 2,023,461 Butler Dec. 10, 1935 2,036,699 Hohwiesner Apr. '7, 1936 

